The Arrows project for underwater archaeology

Reggiannini M, Salvetti O, Allotta B, Colombo C, Lane D, Cocco M, Gualdesi L, Roig B D, Dede C, Baines S, Tusa S, Dresen U, Salumae T

Digital Archaeology  Dissemination  Image analysis 

ARROWS is the acronym for ARchaeological RObot systems for the World's Seas1. The project, started in September 2012, is funded by the EU in the framework of the FP7 call ENV-2012, challenge 6.2-6, devoted to "Development of advanced technologies and tools for mapping, diagnosing, excavating, and securing underwater and coastal archaeological sites". The ARROWS consortium comprises expertise from underwater archaeology, underwater engineering, robotics, image processing and recognition from academia and industry. 10 partners from 5 different Countries are involved. The cost of underwater archaeological investigations using a research ship with skilled human operators and/or Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) is high (up to EUR50k per day) and beyond the range of many archaeological research institutions. Reducing the cost of underwater archaeological operations is an important issue to address in advancing the knowledge of our cultural heritage. The challenge faced by ARROWS is to generate and adapt existing technologies in the field of military, security and offshore oil and gas applications, in order to develop user-friendly and low cost Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) technologies for archaeological investigation in different sea environments. Two different demonstration sites will used, one in the Baltic Sea and one in the Egadi archipelago (Sicily).